Charming the Runaway Duke Read online

  Chapter 3

  Visitors were not so common during the holidays that the arrival of an earl could be anything but exciting. Particularly for Amelia’s Great Aunt Beatrice on her mother’s side, just like Madeline.

  “If she does not sit down soon, I fear she may swoon when the earl actually arrives,” Madeline murmured beside her.

  “Hush,” Amelia whispered. “We do not want to ruin her fun.”

  “Do you know,” Amelia said. “If I become a duchess—”

  “When you become the duchess,” Madeline corrected.

  Amelia bit her tongue to keep from arguing the point. She was not due to travel to Italy to seek out her errant duke until the spring. Anything could happen before then. For all she knew, he’d grown decrepit and frail these last ten years. Perhaps he was hovering at death’s door this very moment.

  She supposed it wasn’t quite Christian of her to be feeling so hopeful about that. With a wave of guilt she said a quick prayer for forgiveness for even entertaining such a notion. Her prayer was interrupted by Madeline nudging her arm. “When you become the duchess…” she prompted.

  “Ah, yes. I was just thinking how many doors I could open for you when I have more influence.”

  “It is not as though you are lacking in social standing now as the daughter of a former duke, and niece to the current duke.”

  “I am still just a niece,” she said. “A single young lady with nothing to offer aside from a dowry.”

  Madeline scoffed. “Yes, your plight is truly pitiable.”

  Amelia ignored her teasing. “My point, dear cousin, is that I will have some influence soon enough and when I do, I shall set my sights on finding you a happy match.”

  Madeline’s brow arched. “Is that how you plan to spend your days as a duchess?”

  Amelia shrugged. “What else would I be doing?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Madeline said slowly. “Perhaps throwing soirees for the ton, or running a household, or perhaps chasing after little ones…?”

  Amelia kept her head down as though transfixed by the embroidery in her hands. “Better not to ponder what ifs,” she said.

  And by that she meant, best not to get her hopes up. It was too easy to daydream about somedays and what ifs, but she had realized long ago how fruitless it was to dream. Once upon a time, she’d held out high hopes for her engagement, and look how that had turned out. Her fiancé never acknowledged her existence, let alone stole a kiss or twirled her about the dance floor.

  Her fiancé had done such a fine job of evading her that the ton had given him a nickname. The Runaway Duke.

  An old ache she barely acknowledged anymore pierced through her at the thought. She’d long grown accustomed to the laughter at her expense, but she just wasn’t sure how she was supposed to be pleased with the idea of marrying a man who’d left her in London to be teased and whispered about for years.

  “He’s here!” Aunt Beatrice called out.

  Amelia and Maddie exchanged a look. Their own excitement was somewhat less enthusiastic over the arrival of an earl. In fact, Amelia was a bit put out that he was visiting at all. They were hosting a dinner party the next evening, to which the earl was expected to attend. Was it really so important that they visit with the man this afternoon as well?

  They heard a commotion at the front door as the gentleman arrived and the butler let him in. Amelia took the opportunity to turn to her cousin and finish her thought. “Just think, when I am the duchess I can truly make a difference in your life.”

  Madeline smiled. “You already have.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  Madeline did not have a chance to reply, as the butler opened the door to the drawing room and stepped back to allow for a dark-haired gentleman with a frighteningly furrowed brow to enter. He scowled at the room at large as if the choice of tapestries and curtains were a personal affront.

  Her great aunt rushed forward to make introductions as she’d had the honor of meeting the earl years prior—a fact he either did not remember or did not feel the need to remark on.

  No one could say that this earl excelled with niceties, however Amelia was far more interested in the gentleman who’d followed the earl into the room. Tall and handsome, he had a far more congenial air about him that had her warming to him instantly. With short, sandy-colored hair and a patrician nose, he looked just as elegant and debonair as the earl, but far more appealing to Amelia’s tastes. For, not merely was he handsome, he looked kind. It was something in the set of his lips, quirked up at the edges as though he were just looking for an excuse to smile, to laugh.

  Not like one of those imbecilic dandies who she’d endured at countless society functions. No, this man had intelligence in his eyes as she watched him catalogue the room and its inhabitants in the exact opposite fashion than the earl. His was not a critical stare, but an inquisitive search.

  She liked him. Silly as it sounded, she discovered she liked him before she’d even met him. When his gaze met hers, Amelia was already smiling and sure enough, his eyes were lit with a warm glow in return. His eyes were amber in color and that glow made it look like he’d swallowed fire. Surely that fire was radiating heat because that was the only explanation for the way her skin seemed to sizzle under his watchful gaze.

  “…and of course you must meet my niece and her companion,” Amelia’s great aunt continued. With a vague flourish of her hand, her flustered aunt could not seem to tear her eyes away from the intimidating earl as she introduced the younger ladies.

  Amelia caught Madeline’s eye and they shared a little grin at her aunt’s undisguised awe in front of the earl. Not that she could blame her great aunt—her eyes flickered to the towering, dark, brooding earl. The man was intimidating, she would give him that. Even when he bowed gallantly, he managed to convey a haughty disdain that entirely belied his companion’s easy nature.

  “Good afternoon,” the earl said when he straightened. His gaze moved evenly between Amelia and Madeline. “I am Lord Tolston. Please allow me to introduce The Duke of Harlow—”

  “The Duke of Harlow’s solicitor, Mr. Greenwald,” the handsome man interrupted.

  Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise, at the mention of her betrothed’s name as much as at his ill manners. She did not have to look to know that her aunt and Madeline likely shared the same look of surprise.

  The earl, for his part, turned his harsh glare on the man beside him and for a moment, Amelia nearly pitied Mr. Greenwald. Or rather, she would have if he did not look so very pleased with himself, not even flinching in the face of the earl’s rather frightening scowl.

  A long silence passed as the two men stared. Well, the earl glared…Mr. Greenwald stared, no sign of repentance for his bad behavior.

  Something about his insouciance and his ill-disguised amusement in the face of the earl’s stodgy glare had her stifling a giggle.

  The earl turned back to the ladies. “Will you excuse us for a moment? I’d like a word with Mr.—” He hesitated and then cut himself off with a huff as he reached for the other man’s arm. “A word, if you please.”

  Mr. Greenwald shot her a smile that she felt to her core, a warmth she could never explain making her own lips curve up in delight as he held her gaze even as he was being dragged back out of the room by the imperious earl.

  When the door shut behind them, she could not contain it for another moment.

  One shared look with Madeline and Amelia was doubled over with laughter.

  Chapter 4

  Royce grinned at the closed door, which did little to damper the sound of laughter.

  “Why are you wearing that idiotic smile?” Alec demanded.

  Royce’s smile only grew. He could hardly help it, even though he knew it must look foolish. But really, that laugh. It made him want to laugh as well. He continued to stare at the door as if his stare might help him to see through solid wood to the woman beyond it.

  “She is lov
ely, is she not?” He said it more to himself, but Alec answered nonetheless.

  “Your fiancée? Undoubtedly.”

  Royce’s smile faded fast as reality settled in once more. He had not been talking about his fiancée, in fact. Though no one could deny that the tall, slim lady with the white-blonde hair was beautiful. He’d spotted his betrothed instantly thanks to that white-blonde hair, the one feature he remembered vividly from his childhood, the one and only time they’d met.

  She’d grown up to be just as lovely as any man could dream, with the ramrod straight posture and high-tilted chin that gave away her nobility without a word.

  But truly, it had been the other woman who’d caught his attention. Far less striking in appearance, with her dark blonde curls and her petite stature…but those eyes. Those lips. That smile.

  She’d been radiant—all warmth and kindness, sweetness and light. She’d looked like an angel in a blessedly human form. And she…was not the woman he was to marry.

  How stupid. How utterly foolish. For a second there, he’d nearly let himself forget. He cleared his throat and turned to face Alec. “Yes, my bride-to-be was beautiful, was she not?”

  “You could not seem to take your eyes off her, that much was clear.” Alec’s voice was filled with disdain. He did not sound like he was being facetious, but he had to be. Royce knew very well that he’d all but ignored his intended once his eyes had caught on her companion.

  “Are you going to tell me what you are up to?” Alec demanded.

  Royce’s smile was back. He couldn’t help it. Little amused him so much as irking his oldest and stodgiest friend. “Of course not.”

  Alec huffed. “I suppose you think it amusing to dupe your intended.”

  “I’d prefer to think of it as allowing us to get to know one another without undue influence.”

  “Undue influence.” Alec repeated the phrase thoughtfully. “I suppose you are referring to your engagement.”

  Royce tipped his head in acknowledgement. “You must admit. It would be rather difficult for either of us to get to know each other’s true personality with such a heavy weight hanging over us.”

  Alec studied him like he was a dolt.

  Perhaps he was. Guilt nagged at him, because while that was partially honest, it was hardly the whole truth. While he did enjoy the notion of becoming acquainted with his future bride without expectations, he also wanted just a little more time to get to know the enchanting little sprite who’d charmed him with a smile.

  The moment the world at large knew that he was the duke, he would be expected—and rightly so—to spend all of his time with his future duchess. His chest twinged with guilt and regret at the thought of the beautiful, statuesque, utterly elegant blonde who would be his bride.

  She was perfection in every way but one.

  She was not the companion—that diminutive little imp with the smile that made his heart leap into action.

  “What are you about, Harlow?” Alec demanded.

  Royce shifted uncomfortably under his friend’s all-seeing stare.

  Alec frowned. “Surely you were not disappointed with your bride-to-be?”

  Royce glared at his friend. “Of course not. Who could fault such a beauty? Not to mention her manners were impeccable.”

  “You think so?” Alec said. “I’d rather thought her a bit too…”

  Royce frowned. “Standoffish?” he suggested, thinking of the tall woman with her unreadable gaze.

  Alec scoffed. “Hardly.”

  They shared a long look before Alec said, “Then what is your hesitation in having her know she is to be your bride? You said yourself, she is…well, I would not call her beautiful, necessarily, but I suppose she has her charms.”

  Royce’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You do not think her a beauty? Why, with that white-blonde hair and her elegant features, and that statuesque frame…”

  His voice trailed off in the face of Alec’s clear confusion.

  “What is it?” Royce asked.

  “The lady you are describing, that is not—”

  “What?” Royce prompted when his friend came to an abrupt halt.

  “Nothing.”

  Royce frowned at his best friend’s smirk. “What is it?”

  Alec shook his head. “Nothing, it is only…you seemed a bit distracted in there.” He nodded toward the drawing room where the ladies waited. Distracted? That was one word for it. The entire world had seemed to disappear the moment his gaze collided with that of the petite companion. “I suppose I was,” he said stiffly. His friend’s smirk was unbearably smug, as though he were in on some secret.

  “So distracted, in fact, that you barely seemed to pay attention at all when the introductions were made,” his friend noted.

  He fought the urge to fidget like a schoolboy for having been caught daydreaming.

  About his fiancée’s companion.

  Oh drat, this was absolutely not ideal.

  Which made Alec’s barely concealed laughter that much more irritating.

  “What exactly are you laughing at?” he demanded.

  “You, my friend.” Alec clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Come along, Mr. Green. Let us get better acquainted with your betrothed, shall we?”

  “It is Mr. Greenwald,” he muttered. But he did not resist when Alec pushed him none-too-gently toward the doorway.

  Once inside, he was ushered into a seat opposite the companion. Their elderly aunt was soon called away to attend to some household matter, which left Royce and Alec in the company of two fetching and charming young ladies.

  His bride-to-be would be a wonderful hostess, that much was clear. With a smooth, low voice and a calm demeanor, she was the epitome of grace. No one could deny she was stunning; while graceful and subdued no one could call her cold. She wore a small smile that reached her perfect blue eyes, and yet…

  And yet.

  He could not tear his gaze from her friend for the very life of him. And the companion blushed prettily whenever their gazes collided, whenever their smiles seemed to urge one another on until they were sitting there grinning at one another like a couple of witless imbeciles.

  He tried with all his might to find the same sort of connection when he looked toward the imperious lady with the impossibly placid stare. He had not been lying earlier when he’d told Alec that he wished to acquaint himself with his bride-to-be…he just had not expected to find such sweet temptation with a woman who was forbidden to him.

  All the more reason why he ought to stop this now. Immediately. He tore his gaze away from the bewitching little pixie while he was still able. He had the alarming suspicion that one more smile from her and he’d be truly and utterly under her spell, no longer able to tell right from wrong or familial duty from a hasty trip to Gretna Green.

  Oh this woman was dangerous.

  And lovely.

  And…forbidden.

  He was very nearly grateful when Alec—smart, perceptive Alec—stepped in to save him from himself, giving him the perfect opportunity to get closer to his intended…and away from the siren whose smiling eyes held him captive. “As Harlow’s solicitor, I am certain there is much for you two to discuss,” he said.

  Royce was staring at the lovely little minx when Alec had said it and her smile grew—a feat he had not thought possible. But there it was, even broader, kinder, and filled with even more mischief.

  He knew what Alec was doing, of course. Attempting to give him some privacy with his intended so he could get to know her better, as he’d said he wished to. And yet, he could not quite tear his attention away from her friend who seemed to light up at the suggestion. “That is a splendid idea,” she said.

  His siren arched her brows slightly as if prompting him. It was once again his turn to say something polite. He shot a look in the direction of the classically beautiful blonde he was to marry. “Yes. Yes, of course.”

  The lady smiled at him kindly. Oh, if only the curve of this lady’s lips
had the same effect as her friend. Her cousin? He looked between the two. Yes, there was definitely some resemblance there, but if the connection had been defined for him during the introduction he had missed it entirely.

  He had, as Alec so accurately pointed out, been just a bit distracted.

  And now the woman who was to be his wife was standing, and he and Alec came to stand as well. She turned her smile to Alec. “To that end, shall we take a walk about the room, my lord?”

  Alec gave her his most charming smile—which was not all that charming at all, to be honest—and held out an arm.

  Royce watched them leave, flabbergasted. Where were they going? Any why was Alec going off alone with his intended? Was not he supposed to be the one with her?

  Instead, he found himself frowning down at the lovely little dove with the wide sparkling eyes. Confusion warred with delight. Who was he to deny himself a moment of solitude with the woman who’d bewitched him with a mere smile?

  Chapter 5

  It was impossible to not be diverted by this gentleman, Amelia decided. He was just so…so…

  Handsome.

  She swatted the thought away like a fly. Of course he was handsome. Anyone with eyes would agree to that. But that was not why she was so delighted by him. It was the way he looked at her. Like they shared a secret. It made her want to share one with him. It made her want to whisper and giggle, and it had clearly tricked her brain into thinking there was some sort of intimacy here between them that was not there because she found herself uttering the first words that popped into her mind. “Are you so very distraught to have a private conversation with me or have I done something to offend you?”

  There. That frown disappeared instantly as he sank back into the seat across from her. “Truth be told, I am delighted to further make your acquaintance,” he said. “I merely assumed…” His gaze followed the earl and Madeline and she squelched down a pang of envy.

  It was hardly Madeline’s fault that she was so pretty, and Amelia had grown quite accustomed to male gazes seeking her out in a crowd even as they talked to her, or dined next to her, or danced with her. It rarely bothered her when men followed her with their eyes.